Page 11 of The Billionaire’s Siren (S.E. Smith Signature Romance: Heart & Soul #1)

Giving her time.

Giving her a choice.

Dani lifted her hands to his chest, her fingers splaying over the fine linen of his shirt. She didn’t push him away. She slid them upward—slow, deliberate—until her palms rested over his heart .

It thundered beneath her touch.

She rose on her toes and met him halfway.

The kiss was slow.

Searching.

It wasn’t rushed—not yet.

It was reverent.

A question and an answer all at once.

Her lips were soft and warm, molding to his. Her hands moved to his shoulders, curling there, holding on as if the world might shift beneath them. His own hands framed her face, angling her gently, deepening the kiss, coaxing her to open to him.

When she did, it shattered him.

Everything else—his past, his plans, the image of the life he thought he wanted—fell away like smoke on the sea air.

She tasted of salt and wind and something wild he hadn’t realized he’d been missing.

He broke the kiss with a groan, his forehead resting against hers, his breathing ragged.

“Danika,” he murmured.

Her name was like a vow and a prayer on his tongue.

She didn’t answer. Just leaned into him, her eyes closed, her body flush against his, as if she wasn’t ready to let go of the moment either.

And neither was he.

Because in that single kiss, he knew.

She was different.

She was real.

And she was destined to be his.

The subtle click of the door opening broke the spell.

Dani pulled back, her breath catching, her cheeks blooming into a flush of delicate pink.

Alexandros stepped back as she turned, quickly tucking loose strands of hair behind her ear.

She reached for her glass of water, masking the tremor in her fingers as the steward entered with the quiet confidence of someone well-trained in discretion.

Alexandros nodded to the man to begin serving.

“I’ll let you know when we’re ready for the second course,” he said calmly.

The steward inclined his head and moved to set the appetizers onto the table.

Alexandros crossed the room and pulled out a chair for Dani. She slid into it gracefully, murmuring a soft, “Thank you,” without meeting his gaze.

He waited until she was seated before circling to the opposite side and taking his own chair.

The steward poured him a fresh glass of wine, bowed again, and disappeared as quietly as he’d come.

Dani took a sip of her water, then met his eyes—mischief dancing in hers. “So,” she said, leaning back slightly. “What did your background report say about me?”

He almost choked on his first sip of wine. A slash of heat rushed to his cheeks—not entirely from the wine—and he cleared his throat, setting the glass down.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” he replied, aiming for casual, but her amused expression told him she wasn’t buying it.

She lifted an eyebrow. “You called me Danika. I never told you that. In fact, the only person who ever called me that was my grandmother. And after last night’s surprise dive off your yacht, I’d have done the same thing. I’m guessing your lawyers weren’t thrilled about the liability.”

Her tone was light, teasing, but her eyes were too sharp to be anything but serious.

He gave a short, reluctant laugh. “I might have wanted to know who you were before inviting you aboard again.”

She grinned. “Smart man.”

“Should I be worried about that liability?” he asked, playing along.

Her smile wavered as she stared back at him. “Only about the fire you started inside me,” she confessed in a soft voice .

The moment the words slipped out, her eyes widened, and color flooded her cheeks. She looked away quickly, focusing on the cutlery like it held state secrets.

Alexandros leaned forward, elbows braced on the table, his voice low. “You know… you literally brought me to my knees the first time we met.”

She glanced up, a question in her eyes.

“I can honestly say,” he continued, “no other woman has ever done that.”

Her lips parted, the air between them shifting. She laughed, soft and surprised, the tension easing.

Over dinner, their conversation unfolded like a slow dance—organic, teasing, layered. The food was impeccable—fresh grilled fish with lemon and herbs, warm bread, marinated olives, roasted vegetables—but Alexandros barely noticed what he was eating.

Dani challenged him.

They debated current events with equal fervor—she had strong opinions about renewable energy, while he argued the limitations of infrastructure and real-world logistics.

She listened intently, cut in without apology, and countered his points with wit and facts.

She didn’t back down—and she didn’t get defensive when he didn’t agree.

He found it exhilarating.

She spoke with passion, even when they disagreed, and he realized he’d never had this kind of conversation with a woman at dinner. Usually it was small talk, compliments, and polite laughter.

This? This was real.

He wasn’t sure how the topic ended up shifting to one he normally avoided at all costs.

Discussions of love, marriage, and lifelong commitment were strictly off-limits, a taboo subject shrouded in unspoken rules. To his surprise, the words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them, a realization that shocked even him.

"I'm not sure I believe in love," he admitted, swirling the dark red wine, the ruby liquid catching the dim light, and avoiding her questioning gaze. “Not… the kind that lasts. From my experience, it is a fleeting emotion.”

“What about your parents? Do they love each other?” she asked.

He chuckled. “Their marriage was an arranged one. I would say they are the closest thing to love that I have seen. My mother teases that they started out as strangers who slowly fell in love.”

“Isn’t that how it begins for everyone? We are all strangers—you and I—but, the longer we spend together the more we get to know each other.

I’m not saying that we’re falling in love or anything like that, but that is how it begins.

My parents always said there are five things that a couple has to agree on if they are to have a strong, successful marriage. ”

He paused and lifted his glass. “Five things?” he repeated, leaning forward. “What are the mythical five things that guarantee eternal bliss?

She leaned her elbows on the table and studied him. “Well, money.”

He lifted an eyebrow and gave her a cynical nod. “Ah, yes. The most important element.”

She shook her head. “No, not the most important, but necessary. It isn’t about how much, or who has it. It’s about how to spend it, invest it. Things like that. If I balance the checkbook, or do you? If we have separate or joint accounts. It’s about trusting each other.”

“Go on,” he encouraged.

“Okay. There’s the in-laws.”

“How do in-laws factor into a marriage?” he asked, growing intrigued.

“Well, you can love them—or hate them—but, in the end, the relationship is between you and your spouse. Do you go to one house for this holiday and the other for the next? If you or your spouse doesn’t get along with them, how do you handle that?

Is there a reason, and will you support your spouse?

It may mean compromising, but there has to be an understanding. ”

“This seems like a very intense list,” he commented dryly.

He was fascinated by factors that he had never considered. He wondered if any of these were part of a prenup. It would be interesting to see how his lawyers would deal with the ‘in-law’ factor.

She nodded, completely serious. “Better to know where you stand before you marry than after. The next one is religion. This one can be tricky. Are you religious? What if your spouse isn’t? What if your spouse’s religion is restrictive to you?”

“I can see where that one could cause issues. I’m not, by the way—religious. Next on your list,” he said.

She smiled and bowed her head. “The next is children. What if one of you doesn’t want any? What if one of you can’t have children? What if one of you wants ten kids and the other only wants two?”

“I would have to bow to my imaginary wife’s desires on numbers, but—yes, one day, I would like to have a child or two. As long as it is possible,” he amended.

“Yeah,” she said softly. “Someday, a couple would be nice.”

The more she spoke, the more he couldn’t stop thinking about her—as his imaginary wife. He studied her, visualizing her body changing, growing round with his child. The vision sent an unexpected shaft of longing through him.

He silently cursed. He had never had a desire to see any of his previous lovers pregnant. Hell, unless they could make a few million off him, none of them wanted anything to do with children. Children were noisy, messy, and far too demanding.

“And the last?” he asked, his throat tight as he continued picturing holding Dani and feeling his child growing inside her.

She fought a grin. “Sex.”

The last one surprised him, and he frowned. “Sex? Isn’t that already included in the marriage contract?”

She laughed. “Yes, but there’s a lot of gray area in those three letters.”

“Such as?”

He knew he was in trouble when that mischievous twinkle appeared in her eyes again. “Well, there is how often do you do it?”

“Daily—multiple times,” he said, his voice dropping.

“How—?” Her voice faded, and she waved her hand towards him .

“What does this mean? How—?” and he mimicked her hand wave.

She bit her lip before running her tongue over it. “In what positions? How do you like it? Mission style?” she asked, before her eyes dropped to his lips. “Or do you like to experiment? Try different things? Explore ways to heighten your connection? Do-do you like it exciting?”

“Always, what about you?” he asked, his body on fire. “What about you, Danika? How do you like it?

“I don’t know,” she said, her voice laced with amusement. “I’ve never… been with anyone.” Her gaze held his, an impish twinkle in them as she continued, “I guess I’ll find out when I do.”

Shock coursed through him. He couldn’t have heard her correctly. Did she just admit that she was still a—virgin? His gaze swept over her beautiful face. Her magnificent hair. Her curves.

He blinked. Once. Twice. “You… have never been with a man?”

“Never,” she said with a shrug. “Amazing, huh?”

He sat frozen, his mind still reeling.

“Oh, look! Dessert!” she chirped, as if she hadn’t just upended his entire reality.

Her sweet smile lingered as he choked on more than just his wine.